More likely it is a bad download. Remove the rpm from cache (
/var/cache/zypp/packages/Update/x86_64/kernel-desktop-3.16.7-29.1.x86_64.rpm)
and try again with a new download.

Bad download would be a serious surprise. It was fetched weeks ago with wget,
saved to my LAN server, and installed at least a dozen times already after
copying it to each target's cache, as I've been doing for over a year for
most openSUSE update and TW default, desktop and pae kernels.

I tried what you said anyway - same failure message.
--
"The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant
words are persuasive." Proverbs 16:21 (New Living Translation)